Jim Thwaites (Image: PA)
Jim Thwaites (Image: PA)
Manchester United's highly-rated Cumbrian midfielder Jim Thwaites has been called up to the England Under-20 squad.
Thwaites, from south Cumbria, is named in a 24-man squad for Elite league fixtures against Italy, France and Germany.
It will offer the 18-year-old the opportunity of international recognition for the first time under Under-20 coach Darren Moore.
Thwaites, who attended the Lakes School in Windermere and is the son of former Carlisle United player Adam Thwaites, has come through the academy ranks at Old Trafford.
He is now a regular in the Red Devils' Under-21 side in Premier League 2 - while he made the first-team bench for Man Utd's 1-0 win at Chelsea in the Premier League last season.
Thwaites, who also helped Man Utd reach the FA Youth Cup final last season and was named by former boss Ruben Amorim in the senior squad for May 2025's post-season tour to Asia, is regarded as a top prospect at Old Trafford.
Thwaites is regarded as a top prospect at Old Trafford (Image: PA)
He featured for Michael Carrick's first team in a pre-season game against Atletico Madrid in the Snapdragon Cup in Stockholm, while he was in Under-21s action for the Red Devils on Friday night in a 3-2 win over Brentford in Premier League 2.
Representing our #YoungLions this international break 👏
Swipe through our development squads ⤵️
— England (@England) September 18, 2026
He has often trained with the first team since the age of 16 and, in interviews last season, the young Cumbrian spoke of the top Old Trafford stars he looks up to - such as captain Bruno Fernandes.
"All of them are really good to be fair, but Bruno will take you to one side and make sure you're alright," said Thwaites, who is a free-kick specialist.
"But also, on the pitch he will encourage you and let you know that the standard here is the standard you should be aspiring to get to.
"But he is also helping you to get to that level."
Thwaites said he was "delighted, over the moon" with his role on the first-team bench last season.
"I had to tell my family and stuff like that," said Thwaites.
"I'm just trying to learn as much as possible from the pros because that's where you want to be realistically, so just grasp it all in."
He is joined in the latest England U20 squad by Man Utd team-mates Harry Amass, Ayden Heaven, Jack Fletcher and Shea Lacey.
Other players in the squad include Manchester City keeper Oli Whatmuff, who is on loan at Stockport County, and Sunderland midfielder Chris Rigg.
The Young Lions head to Spain for the trio of games, taking on Italy on September 25, France on September 29 and Germany on October 3.